Hull City owners face council legal fight

Hull City Football Club’s owners are being taken to court by the council in a row over a new artificial pitch.

Stadium Management Company (SMC) fitted the pitch at the Airco sports arena in April for its youth team to play on. This meant that existing users could no longer play on it and were, in many cases, left homeless.

Hull City Council’s officers said that the legal action related to SMC breaching its lease terms at the Airco.

The arena forms a section of the West Park-based sports complex which includes City’s KC Stadium – also home to Hull FC rugby league team.

SMC, which is run by Hull City owners Ehab Allam and his father Assem, manages the council-built and owned facilities.

City said that the FA would not up the rating of its special youth academy before it installed a synthetic pitch.

A petition containing the signatures of over 3,000 people opposed City’s switch.

Ian Anderson, a spokesman for the council’s legal team, said it was “regrettable” that legal action was being taken. But he hoped that an “amicable” answer could be found with the club.